New insight in the cross-talk between microglia and schizophrenia: From the perspective of neurodevelopment

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Schizophrenia presents with psychotic, negative, and cognitive symptoms, significantly impacting patients and families.
• Schizophrenia is increasingly recognized as a neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Microglia, the brain's immune cells, play crucial roles in neurodevelopment, influencing neuronal survival, death, and synaptic plasticity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence supporting the hypothesis that abnormal microglia function contributes to schizophrenia.
• To elucidate the role of microglia in the neurodevelopmental origins of schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of experimental studies investigating the relationship between microglia and schizophrenia.
• Synthesis of evidence from preclinical and clinical research.

Main Results:

• Accumulating experimental data suggest a strong link between microglia dysfunction and schizophrenia.
• Anomalous microglia activity during neurodevelopment may be a key factor in schizophrenia pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

• The hypothesis that microglia dysfunction leads to schizophrenia is supported by emerging evidence.
• Further research into microglia's role is crucial for understanding and potentially treating schizophrenia.